El Pollo Loco — Restaurant in Lancaster

I don't visit El Pollo Loco often because I live in South Carolina. So, the only time I would make it to El Pollo Loco is while visiting relatives in California. I recently was in California and wanted to take my granddaughter out of school for a quick but satisfying lunch. El Pollo Loco on Valley Central Way seemed like a good choice because it was near the school and had promising items on its menu. However, our experience was hit and miss. The biggest issue I had at El Pollo Loco was their tortillas. I ordered the chicken tacos el carbon combo, which comes with three tacos made with corn tortillas that are doubled. My granddaughter ordered a chicken avocado burrito which is made with a grilled flour tortilla. My tacos were wrapped in foil, and when I unwrapped each one and attempted to eat them, they fell apart. This was true for each taco, even though they were double wrapped. My granddaughter's burrito also had difficulty holding its contents and it fell apart too. Now, you may be thinking that this South Carolina guy just doesn't know how to properly eat a taco. Not so. I am a native Californian and lived in the state for over 60 years. I've had my share of tacos. In fact, during our visit to California this time I ate tacos from Sharkey's (fajita and fish on double-wrapped corn tortillas), Rubio's (grilled gourmet shrimp tacos on corn tortillas), and Tortilla Grill (hard shell carnitas tacos). None of the tacos from these places fell apart at all, even though all of them were filled with more content than the El Pollo Loco tacos. In fact, when I received my shrimp tacos from Rubio's, I actually made the comment that it sure has a lot of sauce in it. Yet, as wet as the contents were, the tortilla held up. The El Pollo Loco tortillas seem to be steamed, which may be part of the problem. But at any rate, this is something that El Pollo Loco needs to figure out. The contents of the tacos are tasty, but the experience of eating them is frustrating. Added to the frustration is the restaurant's adherence to California's law about having to request plastic utensils. So, when the taco splits, it requires a visit to the counter, which is crowded with people huddled in one area to order, pick up food, and get their beverages. Wading through the crowd, I waited at the pickup section of the counter to get the attention of a very busy staff person who was filling orders. She has plenty to do without being constantly interrupted by people asking for forks or more salsa. So, although the food was pretty good, I can't say that my visit to El Pollo Loco was enjoyable. The restaurant needs to do something to alleviate the congestion at the counter area, and they need to address the disintegrating tortilla phenomenon. Maybe they should take a field trip to Sharkey's or Rubio's to see...

Pretty irritated. I waited til the next morning to leave this review, to see if maybe I was just in a crappy mood. I come here all the time. I never leave the restaurant without spending about $25 if not more. A drink came with my order, I asked for an extra cilantro dressing, and a medium cup of just ice. The medium cup probably costs you guys all of MAYBE .10c

I get handed my double chicken bowl, which was not double chicken, side ways. So the sour cream and stuff just falls into the walls of the container. Fine it's an awkward bowl I get it. Nor did I get the dressing. No biggie, accidents happen.

But then I get handed this tiny baby cup, of ice.

I just spent 25 bucks at your store and I can't have a medium cup of ice??? I understand not giving it to paying customers. But if a customer is spending money at your establishment, and you can't be bothered to give them a medium cup of JUST ice, that's absolutely ridiculous. I would have even paid the price of a sauce in exchange for a medium cup. But it wasn't offered. They just straight handed me not even a small, it was an extra extra extra small cup it looked like.

It'll be the last time I spend money at this location. That was just a slap in the face for how expensive this place is, and can't give a paying customer a medium cup of...

Scum bags! So we go in to get food, my wife goes to the restroom it is a unisex single toilet restroom. She had to wait as a cook about 5'10" tall looked between 25 and 30 leaves the restroom, she goes in, immediatly comes out and says lets leave. I was curious so I went in! Urine all over the seat all over the outside of the toilet. This is why I say scum bags! He may not be the person whom made the mess, but he is employed at this fastfood establishment and we all know they all want more money to provide services like this! But yet he did not clean it up, or find the person who is responsible for cleaning it up he went from the restroom straight to the grill! How many people don't wash they're hands then touch a doorknob? Alot! He may have washed them in the restroom but he touched two doors then went straight to cooking. We planned on eating at this establishment but after seeing how they represent themselves I decided to go across the way and eat a pretty good burger at Carl's jr. That I wasn't in...